Dutchess college students may vote in Tuesday’s
elections, federal judge rules

POUGHKEEPSIE – Poughkeepsie area college
students, who were denied the ability to vote in the election by Dutchess
County Elections Commissioner Erik Haight, may so do after all.

Haight maintained they did not properly list their campus addresses on
their voter registration forms. But, US District Court Judge Kenneth Karas
ruled late Monday they may, in fact, vote on Tuesday.

The students from The CIA, Marist College and Bard College filed a class
action lawsuit against Haight and the Dutchess board of Elections maintaining
they do have the right to vote.

The students were represented by the New York Civil Liberties Union and
their law firm.

“This is a victory for voting rights,” said NYCLU Legal Director
Arthur Eisenberg. “The right to vote is preservative of all other
rights in a democracy, and deserves the strictest constitutional protection
possible.”

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